Thoughts on deconstructing, renewing and embracing the qualities (quirks, oddities, imperfections) that make us other-worldly BEAUTIFUL. Includes weekly mentions of the reigning Queen of Other, Kristen Stewart. Perhaps once we shatter the old ideas of beauty, then the need to alienate, segregate and tear down Others will disappear entirely.

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A/N: Images displayed on this anniversary post are not mine–Thank The Goddess for Tumblr, Imagebam & Pinterest. No copyright infringement intended. Click the image to link directly to its origins. Musical inspirations listed at the bottom of post. Words usually pre-read by a luminous team of Rebel Beauties, but not today. These garbled ramblings in all their flaws and glories are mine, all mine.

Four Years . . .

My loveliest, most Majestic of Misfits, it is nice to see you. More than nice, really, though I’m actually indescribably happy to be here, writing, connecting with you. In efforts to gently reacquaint, I’ll just ease in for a moment or two, in small increments. It has been, after all, a year since we last chatted. And much, of course, splendidly, has surmised. The inception of this little gathering space we call MOO occurred four. years. ago.

I’ve been working on novellas, “shorts”, or “Muselets” as I’ve called them, for a week now. And today’s little post is simply a hello note, one bursting with gratitude, but a greeting nonetheless. It has been a long time since I’ve written in this forum, on WordPress, and I’m eager and timid and elated all at once. Thank you for bearing with me as I re-acclimate. I hadn’t known I was going to publish today, but here I am, and would you mind terribly if I shared a little story?

MOOing Pages

Writers I’ve admired, from Carolyn See of the Literary Life, Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) and now the great Diana Gabaldon, poet and sire of my all consuming love (Outlander) remind me: return to your roots, do not let the muscle atrophy, do not let yourself become stagnant. Write. Write. Write every single day. I have not been writing every single day, and I am suffering because of it. Carolyn See says 1500-2000 words a day. Julia Cameron encourages the writing of Morning Pages. Morning pages unlock, they clear the space. The MP invite and do not judge and instead allow a forum to just be, bestowing freedom and space. That freedom is endless and boundless and I’m struggling with wanting to go back and correct typos and add grammar and punctuation and that is exactly the point of MPs–let go of the “shoulds” and tear down the barriers to creativity. A recent addition in my life, a work consultant called Mr O’Donnell recommended I return to what nourishes me. Do I know what that is? he asked. Yes. I know what that is. *looks lovingly towards you*

The words below are this morning’s Morning Pages, or MOOing Pages, I’ve referred to them, because they’re my lighthouse, beckoning me home. They led me to piecing this Muselet together today, when I had least expected. The sentences are unedited, missing serious punctuation, and obscenely affronting to all grammar manuals, but meh. MOOing pages do not judge.

* * *

morning pages PDX version, saturday 10.30AM

song: Roses and Wine by Diego Garcia

Seated in a Portland coffee shop, trying to take stock of my previous 36 hrs, catching up finally on #TheRover goodies, seeing that #AmericanUltra wrapped… Since chatting with you all, I met one of my favorite authors (the spectacularly talented and inspiring Diana Gabaldon of #Outlander). Ms Gabaldon spoke of the writing process, kilts (paying winking respects to Sam Heughan’s authentic Scottish identity, bless), and character development and I swear I could float away on a cloud forever now that it seems I’ve found another muse for Otherness in the diminutive force of nature named Diana, Creator of Badass, Brilliant English Women (Claire Randall Fraser) and her gallant warrior King of Men (James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser).

So, in driving home from the Diana Gabaldon event, starved, dehydrated and with a dead cell phone (none of this foreign to me, I am an original Twilight fangirl for God’s sake) I was pulled over by a cop hell-bent on lecturing me on the virtues of safe driving (what in GOD’S name had me driving so fast? Did I not see the STOP SIGN? Only one earbud allowed while driving, did you know this?) but in the end, Mr Policeman didn’t fine me; instead he generously granted me personalized directions to my ultimate destination of In-N-Out Burger at 130AM. Girl’s got priorities, you know.

Operating on 2.5 hours of sleep, I trudged to work (my new job as of two months ago is working with county mental health programs to ensure counseling is made available to low and no-income consumers), and took refuge in a hazel-nut flavored coffee brewed by the office’s Keurig coffeemaker.

I took a working lunch in which I pulled on my journalist’s hat (more closely resembling a knit beanie with unraveling edges), and ducked away into a small conference room in which I could gather my thoughts and prepare for an interview with a very eloquent, talented musician namedGarrett Williams, founder and lead singer/guitarist of #EvolutionBeat, a contemporary ska band. This would mark my second interview with a rock star in my side gig as contributor and music reviewer for LASF Magazine, an arts, culture and entertainment publication based in Los Angeles and San Francisco, my two home turfs, incidentally. For nearly one hour (save the ten minutes I fumbled with my session microphone, causing, to my utmost embarrassment, the call to drop), Mr Williams and I chatted the transmutation of ska music, Dolly Parton, Scottish bagpipes and broken bones while deciding that we are helpless to the lure of music and its healing properties.

I grabbed a northbound plane after work last night, and sat in aisle seat in the emergency exit row. I had the fleeting thought that I would be a worthless hero to anyone, should we need to exit the giant vessel via side panels. I had no jacket, thin, ballet flats for shoes, and my dinner had consisted of corn chips, whose salt crumbs still clung to my lips. I’m pretty sure I saw the flight attendant’s eyes flit over them while she explained the emergency evacuation protocol to my aisle mates. She may have then switched her attention to the strapping men who stationed themselves in front of the actual 30-pound removable doors and could actually be of assistance in the event of a water landing. However, I am a pretty braw swimmer, so I may be redeemable after all.

* * *

So…. That is how I found myself in Portland, Oregon, hanging out in a stuffed arm chair by a fireplace, even though it’s the summertime. One wouldn’t know it was mid-June if basing this observation on the constantly overcast, cool and damp Portland weather, but let me tell you, fireplaces are kinda wonderful. Especially as I settle in to connect with you all and tell you what I hope to do, to tell you about MOO in its latest, most honest incarnation.

Four of Words

I’ve been blessed with having this space, and you wonderful readers to share with for four years. In the next few days (weeks?), I’ll post a series of new short essays paying homage to elements that have emerged as a result of Musings On Other Queens’ creation. For instance: The celebration of WORDS…. Four years of rejoicing in interview quotes from Kristen Stewart and fellow Other Ambassadors.

“Someone saw an old movie I was in, The Safety of Objects, and realized that the little boy in it had grown up into this girl — me.” ~ Kristen Stewart

Four years of sharing, exchanging, and falling in love with new stories that bind us in a shared admiration for coherency and eloquence and the written word, and the emotions and images associated with those words.

Four of Redefining

We’ll also explore a new entry for the Other Anthology: Transparency. I’ll tell you about my LA-SF road trip in which I gallivanted around my home cities with dear friends @robkris13@mel452 and then viewed the Sundance presentation of Kristen’s film CAMP X-RAY. Some of my lovely girls of the Bay Area joined me for Q & A session with Camp X-Ray’s director Peter Sattler post showing in which praise and accolades for Kristen were reverent and abundant. Transparency indeed.

Four of Red

A third Muselet queued up to post this week will speak to the color RED, as we’ve seen over four years, indicators of our Rebel Roots and bold declarations of UN-convention. Starting with the very FIRST Kristen Stewart picture posted on Musings On Other Queens June 3, 2010.

FIRST RED 2010

and..

CANNES BEAUTY RED 2014

Do you see where I’m going with this, my Other Warriors? Still with me? Ok. So I’ll be seeing you around the hood.

Always, KJ ❤

P.S. Thanks for hanging with me these four glorious years

P.P.S. And thanks for having me back. Rambling and law-breaking and all. #OtherOn

A/N: Images displayed in this essay are not mine–Thank Goddess for Tumblr, Imagebam, and Pinterest. No copyright infringement intended. Click the image for a link to its origins. Totally unbeta’d, so any mistakes and stumbles are mine, allll mine. This is only a shorty, but of course there is a playlist. Click here to open a new page & listen——>(http://pl.st/p/20984139787)

Here comes the sun

Hello, Lovelies. Long time no musings, I know. Those of you who have been my journey mates these past two-plus years understand that any silence from this site is not indication of similar silence experienced by it’s author. I have been musing. Oh, how I’ve been tumbling through and under and over and every which way through the contemplative immensity these past four, [five?] weeks. It’s a matter of reining it in and sharing the ramblings in a cohesive manner. Clearly, as I’ve proven time and time again, my challenge is succinctness.

….Since brevity is the soul of wit ~ Shakespeare

When I decided on a whim to post this little ditty, the clock was twenty minutes shy of switching over to “00:00”, proclaiming a new day; one, as Anne Shirley [an early Other herself, as she dreams from her house of Green Gables] jubilantly reminds us contains “no mistakes in it yet”. It has now grown five minutes past midnight. I only wanted to post a little heads-up. To let you know that Musings is coming atcha this weekend whether you are ready or not. I wanted you to know that I. Am. Here. I never left.

I was inspired to return to this WordPress Wonderland of Otherness for many reasons: because I needed to; because I wanted to; because I have so many words in my head and love in my heart I feared I may implode. Also, because I feel The Shift. The clouds are easing up slightly allowing for precious, nourishing slivers of light to illuminate the sky, warm our faces.

Also, I never had the chance to properly celebrate Musings’ two year anniversary and I simply cannot let much more time elapse without writing about this glorious, shattering, profound year. And to not acknowledge that is just WRONG. This year has been everything. And the past two months in particular have simply changed the game.

So I’m writing the celebratory MOO post that I had planned for weeks ago. This was before July 17, before my husband and I made some pretty intense decisions which lends to why we’re today, quite literally, separated by a world; before I became involved in three funerals, before I made an unexpected but most cathartic return to composing music and finding long-forgotten melodies within.

I created this space over two years ago because I needed a forum to find my voice and connect with kindreds searching for theirs as well. I wanted to to do something to help dissuade the negativity and maybe do my small part in creating change that I wanted to see in the world around me. No time is more apt or essential than now.

So I figure: Let’s pick up right where we left off.

****From my July 31, 2012: Twitlonger

There is one simple, pure, and constant concept that has been a small measure of comfort to me this week. And that is this: nothing, nothing, nothing is black or white. Nothing involving human beings and their emotional capacity can be categorized so easily. There is a gray area. There is an essential consideration that is near and dear to MY heart– of OTHER. That idea that is indefinable, fluid and against simple explanation. Because there is ALWAYS more.

We do NOT know. There is a sequence of events, there are precipitating triggers, there are esoteric factors that we have no access to, and–here’s where it’s crucial to understand– It is not OUR right to access.

No where is there an Admiration Rulebook that states we retain [or deserve] the right to acquire personal, private details in ANYBODY’S lives, let alone regarding people we have never met. We were never invited into their relationship. In fact, Kristen and Rob did everything in their power to preserve and protect what is theirs. They both have countlessly reminded us that idolatry is unwarranted and in the long run, completely, utterly UNFAIR. To ourselves. To them.

People have asked, begged, prompted me to say something all week, and while it is quite flattering to me that you, of such great, burgeoning minds, seek out my addled brain for guidance, there is another part of me that feels pressure.

Yes I’m a clinical psychotherapist. Yes, I Muse on empowerment and compassion and love. Yes, I am a supporter of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson: Together, separately, no matter. But I too am wading through stages of grief, loss, confusion. And sometimes, though this ‘twitlonger’ doesn’t reflect that, I am without words and direction too.

Two points I had hoped to make, before this spiraled out of control into a full-on Musings.

1) Musings On Other Queens–this ‘blog’– is not going anywhere. It never was ‘A Kristen Blog’ or ‘A Robsten [ugh, you KNOW how I detest that label] Blog’. It was a space I created so we could talk about the ways we can overcome labels, misconceptions and generalizations. A way to give voice to the underrepresented. It was intended for us to have a forum to encourage SELF-REFLECTION on how we can contribute to the lessening of stereotypes, possibly banishing the bullying and the hate-mongering.

I think we need that capacity more now than ever. And so no, MOO is not closing down or taking a hiatus other than it’s regular breathing schedule as I navigate my 3D life. And BOY is my 3D life colorful this month. Balance, babies, it’s all about balance.

This started it ALL. It aint stopping anytime soon, kiddos

2.) I honestly and soulfully believe that Kristen and Robert will move through this, in a way that is healing and right for Kristen and Robert. Not by our definitions or standards, but theirs. As it should be.

Also, any amount of processing and rehabilitation will take time.

Sitting on Twitter, or watching entertainment ‘news’ channels obsessively is maybe the most damaging thing we could do right now. And I can say with utmost confidence and authority, that believing wholly in anything the “media” [tabs] churn out is a great disservice to … well, everything, everyone, including Kristen and Robert, the very people that bound us together in the very beginning.

In my twelve years in training as a professional listener…I have learned an open mind is the most compassionate and–most often–prevalent truth in the end. Compassion and support is what Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson need more than anything right now.

Be well and take care of yourselves. Cultivate all of your strengths and blessings in your everyday, tangible life. And while a young couple takes time to assess and evaluate their hopes, aspirations and paths, we can do the same.

See? We’re all rediscovering our humanity together.

In a letter I wrote to my CyberSisters a couple days ago, in the midst of my own personal anguish, I concluded:

“I want to tell you as a marriage and family therapist, that I see this devastation often. It happens. EVERY. DAY. In one form or another.

And, yes, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. the sun rises again and people-warriors make their way towards it’s warmth.

I have faith. I have so much faith.

So a 22 year old girl is human. She resides with the rest of us mortals. I am so happy for the company.”

I am so happy to be in your company.

****

See you this weekend for the commencement of celebrating Other? Yesssss. All my love and light… KJ

Hello, hello! I had meant to post this Muselet yesterday, but it was my one and only day off from all my jobs, and it sorta ran away from me, especially since it was the first day I’ve been upright since that Oddest But Flattening Flu hit me. So last week, I hit “Publish” on the last Musings about Hestia and Home, and I guess Hestia was showing my tired arse how to stay down and out of trouble. I went to bed and then woke up feeling drained and confuzzled and weepy.

i may or may not have looked a little like him

Tried to show up for my job, and four hours into a shift where I stared at people struggling to decipher the language they spoke (It was English or Spanish, most definitely) and failing to respond back…that my manager sent me home. She took a look into my eyes and said, “Oh, honey. GO. HOME.” I went home and was down for over ten days in bed with a fever and an assortment of other uncomfortable symptoms.

Ok. but Im here now with a teeny-tiny Muselet to announce the Giveaway Winners from the last post. I’ll be back this Thursday for our regularly scheduled Musing session where we’ll discuss…

Oh and a quick request of you, Lovelies. Please be sure to say hello to my dear @Buff_82 . She lit up MOO’s halls a bit with some holiday light…She’s a busy, brilliant girl who not only does stunning web design and Tumblr Edits but she is a poetic fanfiction author to boot. And all of this while being mommy to beautiful blonde angels, and running her photography business. Yeah, she’s amazing. I mean, she did this edit for me…and let me use it as a MOO Giveaway last year, after all. @TakeMeToBliss is now the proud owner of this print.

GODDESS GIVEAWAYS

So let’s get to the magazine winners for this contest, mmmkay? *Using the Random Integer Selector at Random.Org….

The winner of the GQ British Magazine:

—->SOLLEE!!!

And two winners of the Glamour Magazines:

—–>Joana and Hopesecho!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, my friends!!! So let’s touch base, you lovely Winners, so we can make arrangements for your magazines to be sent to you IMMEDIATELY!!!

And I’ll see everyone else this Thursday for our usual Musing Time, okay? *Insert ridiculous pretty riiiiiight about hhheeeeeeere*

And we’ll celebrate and lose coherency over the movie that Our Reigning Other Queen Kristen just wrapped…

See you soon, Lovelies. Until then, take care of yourselves and be kind to one another...xx, KJ

Hello dear ones! Happy Thursday! I had fully intended on writing a full-fledged Musings for today, but I couldn’t properly gather the thoughts that I wanted to do so, but know that I have enough material for a full MOO to post on or around this weekend…including a new Featured Rebel. So today’s Muselet will feature a couple of odds and ends and announcements, perhaps a fleeting thought or two on the recent Vanity Fair madness, and the surge of Water For Elephant promotions. *Excuse me while I…THUD*

Hyperventilating aside, we need to kick-off Birthday Season..

Today, for instance, is my talented hubs’ birthday. And because he has tolerated my impulsiveness and loquaciousness with grace and (most times) patience…

And contributed his stunning personal photography to support my dabbling into small-business owning and to Musings even if he didn’t quite understand…and also so that @Buff could work her magic….so much love and gratitude for my IndoGuy…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, N!

And, because March is an awesome month and PISCES are soul mates of mine, my beloved soul sister and Team Other Co-Captain Cynically Convy, creator and author of the brilliant and fast-becoming legendaryKStew Is Better Than You has a birthday as well! Tomorrow, March 4 !! If you aren’t reading CC’s outrageously funny and intelligent posts championing our Other Queen Kristen, or in CC’s words, HER ROYAL HOTNESS , then I don’t know how you’ve made it through your boring days thus far, and frankly, I’m not quite sure how we’re friends. A lot of MOO’s readers are concurrent KSIBTU readers as well. Hell, I think most of you, who didn’t already know me through my Cyber Sisters & Readers, found me because of CC’s support and promotion of Musings. Basically, Musings would NOT exist in its current incarnation if it weren’t for CC. Please go give my sister some love and send some birthday wishes. She’s been under the weather this week, and your greetings will only brighten her day and boost her immune system (and I know a little something about poor immune systems *cough* Typhoid *cough*).

CC, I love you and adore you madly. Each week I find myself bowing down to your genius, yearning for a tenth of your wit and maybe an ounce or two of your coloring skilllllz. This exclusive Moo Artwork was completed while I was at a pizza parlor. Snow White is very significant, yes??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CC!

Other birthdays approaching? Well, The Queen herself, our regal Ambassador of Other, Kristen Stewart, celebrates her twenty-first birthday next month, on April ninth, and Mr Robert Pattinson celebrates the start of his twenty-fifth year in May. Celebrations ahead, my friends. My husband’s and my dear friend CC’s are just the beginning. If you want to send your wishes to Kristen for her birthday next month, I suggest contributing your thoughts and love to TEAM KRISTEN SITE’S BIRTHDAY PROJECT!

Well, so what other topics did I hope to mention today? Well, there is always this insanity:

Like it or not, you know the man has mad charisma when he can pull off the ‘come hither’ look with a big lizard around his neck. Um, I’m not even looking at his neck. Just sayin. The legendary Annie Leibovitz photographed this shoot which accompanies an interview that depicted a more somber and somewhat overwhelmed-sounding Rob. I do not care for and am growing MORE irritated with the interviewer of this article with every new agenda-driven TV interview she gives. However, some of Rob’s answers hint at the long-term effects of isolation and overzealous “fans” including difficulty concentrating and writing, exhaustion and a penchant for taking solace in salty-sweet snacks such as chocolate-covered pretzels. (Don’t judge. Those things are BOMB and offer sweet, sweet relief). He calls out his stalkers, the window-bangers and riot-starters and even encouraged his lawyers to sue the girls who hacked into his email accounts. But, with his wistfulness for quiet and anonymity comes also his steadfast admiration for his colleague and partner in crime, Kristen Stewart, saying,

“I think she’s really good. There are very few girls in her class that are as good as she is.”

I need to re-read the article another few times before I can shove away the melancholy cloud that fell over me when I first read. And I am annoyed by the motivation the VF reporter seemed to carry while interviewing Mr Pattinson. To me, she projected a vibe that I can’t shake that indicates non-support of either Rob or Kristen. But the pictures sans Pilgrim Hat but added musical instruments and cigarettes…well, they’re quite lovely.

Maybe I’ll talk more about this article in the full-fledged Musings I hope to write this weekend, we’ll see. I did definitely have some reactions, though. But this morning’s on-air phone interview between Rob and Ryan Seacrest provided a jovial, charming and laughing Flippy that far succeeds any printed article or biased journalist’s interpretation. It was nice to hear his laughter and lightness again. And I tell ya, I’m gonna LOVE the Water for Elephants press circuit.

Soooo, I’ll wrap up today’s Muselet for now by letting you know that Part 2 of the MOO Mish is underway. I’ve sent over greetings and samples of Musings but also my personal Sacred Contract directly to our Other Queen Kristen and her closest people including the Goddess Ruth and Kristen’s personal assistant and security blanket John. I let them know that when Kristen is ready to implement her own Life’s Work and Fair Philanthropy, that I am on board and have the means and capacity to assist her in her vision.

In the meantime, I’m here, rambling, and supporting and encouraging all of us Others to continue to pursue Bliss and embrace Otherness. You all continue to astound me with your bravery and willingness to be candid and honest. Some of the emails and comments I’ve received re: your Firsts have been heartbreaking and also so inspiring. KEEP GOING!!! Thanks for visiting the Sentence Completion portion of the About KJ page and revisiting some of your Firsts, the good, bad and brilliant…Thanks also for checking out the Resources for Beauty page as well. There is much to add still. Always. I’ll see you in a couple days, my Lovelies. xo, KJ

Just a Muselet here, lovelies. Tomorrow I’ll post my regular Musings, featuring a new Royal Rebel and our usual love for KStew and her Misfit partners in crime… Today I’m happy to announce the winners of the Musings On Other Soundtrack Giveaway, aka: KJ’s Old-School-Love-Letter-poured-into-a-mixed-tape-but-on-a-CD-to-Others. I always enjoyed writing and receiving a good letter. It started when I was in fifth grade, and I took a week-long trip to Washington D.C. with some classmates, and I met new friends who lived in exotic places like…Florida…and Colorado. To have a long-distance penpal when ten or eleven years old, having met them while traveling abroad, seemed pretty damn cool, in my opinion.

Letter writing became my all-consuming world when I was in seventh grade. I knew how to fold the 8 1/2 by 11 inch squared paper into a heart, a circle, an envelope, and perhaps, when computer class became too boring, a swan. And do you know what these little “letters” (notes) would say? Something like this:

Dear M,

Hey honey! I’m in Mrs K’s class, English. I’m so bored. Did you see Joe today? Oh my god, he is soooo fine. Do you think he still likes Kelly?

I LOVE U. K.I.T. BFF. Budz4Life. WRITE BACK.

Love Always, K

Clearly, not on par with Beethoven’s prose to his Immortal Beloved. But a definitive step higher than:

DO YOU LIKE JESSICA?

PLEASE CHECK THE RIGHT BOX:

YES: ___

NO: ___

So here’s the delio: I love you guys. I love you so much I don’t have words, and that in itself is telling, because I always have words. I also love music, it’s an integral, essential part of my being, and it shapes Musings in a very personal way. If I we were still in junior high or high school, I’d write you all and pass you a swan-shaped note in which I checked the box that said YES, when asked if I love you. And, as was the case of my first love, Joe (see above, 7th grade Joe was beautiful), I’d exchange mixed tapes filled with music of light-FM love songs and R & B. And instead of stealthily passing the note while en route to History class under the pretense of fixing my hair scrunchies (YES, SCRUNCHIES, facepalm), I would implement today’s technology of Twitter, Skype, Email, Chat, Texting…where beautiful, devoted poetry has been reduced to:

I heart U, u hot biotch. Txt me. xx

Swoon.

Ok. While this is perfectly fine for every day interactions, and for moments where we are in between meetings and errands, and the eighteen jobs we have…This lackluster statement leads me to think: we have lost the ability to connect in a more meaningful way.

Let’s think about this a second: If you could write Kristen Stewart, our Reigning Other Queen, which medium would you use, what words would you use? How would you communicate your admiration for her? Would you put thought and time into composing a text message? Or would you perhaps like to speak a little bit about your propensity towards domesticity and baking…Kristen puts time into planning and creating meals and desserts for her loved ones, don’t you think she’d appreciate something a little more personal than a statement that could only fit amongst 140 characters a la Twatter?

If she doesn't inspire hand-written love sonnets...

So, let me send you my love letter to Others…Here are the winners of the first Musings On Other Giveaway, based on the comments left on last week’s first Musings’ essay from the new website (If you left more than one comment, I counted you once, and I only included commenters on the main Essay’s page)…

From Random. Org: The Integers

Generate random integers (maximum 10,000).

5

Each integer should have a value between and (both inclusive; limits ±1,000,000,000)

1-21

Here are your random numbers:

16
7
5
10
3

HOORAY! To my lovelies: (16) Dano, (7) Buff82 (5) Nail, (10) Jessica (3) Medelia_Fi , you will be receiving the MusingsOnOther Soundtrack/My Aural Love Letter to YOU in the mail as soon as we get in touch and I have a your contact information. CONGRATULATIONS!….As a Reminder, here are the Tracks:

1. Trouble–Ray LaMontagne

2. The Devil’s Tears–Angus & Julia Stone

3. Acid Tongue–Jenny Lewis

4. Crucify–Tori Amos

5. Hallelujah–Jeff Buckley

6. Soul to Squeeze–Red Hot Chili Peppers

7. Wake Up–Arcade Fire

8. Not Afraid–Eminem

9. Lying–Martina Topley-Bird

10. It’s a Fire–Portishead

11. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World–Iz

12. Never Tear Us Apart–INXS

13. Dig–Incubus

14. Wave of Mutilation–Pixies

15. The Shining–Badly Drawn Boy

16. Addicted to Love–Florence + The Machine

17. The 6th X: For Kelleen–Richard W feat. KJ on vocals

18. Joyful Girl –Ani DiFranco

Why am I doing this? Well, I realized that I miss the old-school way of expressing affection, with an old-fashioned letter written by hand. I miss the romantic sentiment behind homemade gifts, and the excitement of receiving envelopes or packages in the mail. So that is what I’m trying to resuscitate: the personal connection we as humans, have the privilege of exercising. Even now, as I pieced together the playlist for the Musings Soundtrack Love Letter, I could just post it up on PlayList.com for you all to peruse. But if I did that, I wouldn’t get to send you the CD, in the mail, and write you a little card in my own hand. You wouldn’t have the pleasure of receiving a small parcel in your mailbox. I wouldn’t be able to tell you that every single song on the play list was featured in a Musings essay past, and contained a specific message: Love, empowerment, encouragement, gratitude, solace, grief, joy, affection, inspiration…

How do I love thee, let me count the ways

So I’ll see you tomorrow for our regularly scheduled Musings. We’re talking Creative Living, Following Bliss, The Social Network, and the resurfacing of Kristen and Rob, three nights (going for 4?) in a row…Last night, they took in a show by one of our Featured Rebel Royals, Jenny Lewis. SWEETNESS.

And let’s take a moment to gaze at the gloriousness that is the Official Welcome to the Rileys Movie Poster, shall we? *Stares, hypnotized* Ok. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, my dears. Much Love, KJ.

P.S. WINNERS, make sure you send me your contact info! P.P.S: I will most likely be creating a Volume 2 of the Soundtrack. There is just so much good music out there by Others and for Others.

Well hello there, my Misfit Mayhem-makers, how have you been? I hope well, and happy and rested. Did I scare you off with my melt down last week? Was it unsettling for some of us who need a routine for normalcy? Musings posted on Friday and in two parts, concluding on Saturday. Wild, right? *smooths hand over your back to rub comfortingly*. I know. I’m all about thinking outside the box and spontaneity, but even I struggled with the wonky schedule last week, and I want to apologize to you. Between the two family emergencies and Blogger getting salty with me, I may have been …uncouth. Well, as I’ve discussed in previous Musings, energy and The Universe has its way of communicating with us. Last Friday as I was wrestling with Blogger and dividing up the Wanderlust Musings post, I also was launching the website for the private practice. Oh and I was not sleeping a lot due being on standby for the family. So, I got sick. Really sick. Like, ask @Buff82 and @Bouffant how I was constantly in tears and nearly catatonic. Yesterday was the first day where I didn’t need to roll up in the fetal position to ward off the pain. Though I can’t promise to stay away from cold meds today, you all know how I love me my cold meds. . . .

So due to the chaos of last week, I am releasing the first MUSELET MEMO today, because post-fever, I’m a smorgasbord of ideas and it’s Thursday, our regular posting day, and I want to show some pretty pictures of Kristen, um, duh. Most importantly, I’ve missed you guys, so I crave the interaction.

Guidelines for the following Musings Memo:

1. It will be shorter than most of previous Musings (I know. You and Blogger are sighing in relief right now).

2. It will consist of announcements regarding upcoming topics and Team Other Happenings.

3. It will encourage Reader participation. (I told you. I crave interaction with you all. You make my life with your feedback and comments.)

4. It will not feature a new Royal Rebel, though it will allude to potential FRR’s in the approaching weeks.

5. It will, however, always pay homage to the Reigning Ambassador of Other: The Stew

Claro? Let’s get our Muselet Memo on, kids!!

yessssssssss

Roadtrip Memories

Let’s recap some Kristen-related news. After Bouffant’s and my Musings last week regarding Rob’s Road Trip towards Other Queen Kristen, he arrived safely with his Brit Boys TomStu (#TeamTommy FTW) and Sam Bradley in The Big Easy. Not that anyone saw them, but plenty of folks sure tried to produce manips indicating a sighting, with laughable results. But here’s a manip/pic that I giggled over–as was the desired effect–for days upon first learning of the Road Trip, thanks to the brilliant @patronuska:

OICU Jella. Hang on tight, kitty!

Kristen is supposedly within days of wrapping as MarylouStew in on the road, as word on the street has her either finishing today….or working until Sept 26th. Regardless of whether or not she wraps today or in two weeks from now, it has been a pleasure witnessing the journey and transformation of our Other Queen from the Eclipse promo-ing, MTV Movie Award-winning, Oscar-buzz garnering twenty-year-old girl to the professional and esteemed actress portraying the iconic role of Marylou in the Walter Salles-directed film On the Road. The film is already procuring early rave reviews and industry anticipation. Oh, and then there’s the communicating. The nonverbal confirmations that I love so so much from our Royal Rebels. You may fondly recall:

media training? I don’t think so!

Well. Yeah. Our Royal Rebels sure know how to multitask! *wipes tears of joy*. Communicating their solidarity as a couple, and also expressing exactly how they feel about the privacy-invaders, Vultures and overzealous “fans”. . . in the same damn Beastie Boy t-shirt, made legend via Rob earlier this summer…Confirmed by Kristen yesterday, with such clarity and coolness, even the Coke Classic in her hand is envious. Yes, she’s wearing his shirt. As in, her man’s shirt.

If anyone has a right to wear this shirt, it’s KStew

Upcoming Topics for Musings & Featured Royal Rebels

So the news on the Kristen (and Rob) front has been minimal, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have wonderful topics to contemplate and new Rebels from which we can gain infinite wisdom. While Kristen and Rob blaze trails and role model the very reasons why we adore our Other Warriors, I am constantly surveying the vast sea of candidates for Musings’ next Featured Rebel. Some of you have written in and given suggestions, genius suggestions, which I studiously consider. You may have already seen your suggestion featured in previous essays. While I won’t highlight a new Rebel today, I assure you, here are the names of a few folks we’ll probably be locking smoldering gazes with in the approaching weeks:

And upcoming topics for the exceedingly clever Musings Readers to sink their eager teeth into:

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES…SHIFTING FILTERS OF PERCEPTION…JOSEPH CAMPBELL’S ARCHETYPES…DOING YOUR LIFE’S WORK…FAMILY GATHERINGS (INCLUDING EXES)…CREATIVE LIVING…JACK KEROUAC AND ON THE ROAD…

because just 3 years ago…

it was about a boy and a girl. Near impossible circumstances.

We’re Moving!

No, we’re not going to Hawaii (yet), as I had hoped, but give me time. This still could happen. The move I’m referring to now was alluded to mid-sob in last week’s A/N. Because Musings has deadlines, locquacious admins and jawp0rn-happy KJs, it has come to our attention that some hosts simply cannot handle what the Rebel Misfits dish out. Team Other is making preparations to transfer blog-hosts, leaving Blogger behind us. I have started tweaking with files and transferring archived Musings, and have tried to not hassle my beloved Buff anymore than necessary, since she has been off designing and prettifying my business’s website along with KSIBTU (who is also exiting Blogger-ville). Hopefully next week, with a brand new Musings, we will be reporting from a brand new crib. Stay tuned, and hang with me, Rabble Rousers, because this is how we roll, and I really would love us to continue Rollin’ with the Homies, ok??

K says: Chill out, KJ, you’ve rolled with me since at least 2007.

The KStew Fandom is made of cool cats. We flow.

Musings’ Musical Madness Giveaway

And this is where reader participation is highly encouraged and welcomed. Also alluded to in last week’s weepy A/N: The MusingsOnOther Soundtrack!! You all know what a music buff I am, and that it shapes all that I do for Musings. You also know, because I have a bit of a disclosure problem (and this is why I’m reining in giving out the website domain for the Magical Little Practice), I also am a back-burner musician. I have been playing classical piano since I was four years old, singing since I was five, and writing music since I was a pre-pubescent emo kid with frizzy hair and snaggle-teeth. Music informs my mood, beckons The Muse, and expresses beautifully what I can often not. A lot of the Featured Rebel Others on Musings are musicians. And because mix-tapes were the epitome of love-declaring in the nineties and 00’s while I grew up, I would like to declare my love to YOU. I am compiling a playlist of songs I’ve featured on Musings since June…These songs have inspired, provoked, encouraged and soothed me while writing each week’s essay, and also have significance with the stories I’ve shared, and with the bios we’ve discovered in the Featured Rebels. Kristen and Rob are both musicians and demonstrate their exquisite taste and aptitude in music as often as they can (But why isn’t I love Playing with Fire on The Runaways Soundtrack?!). *Oh, plus I’m pretty sure Kristen designed and arranged the soundtrack for Eclipse*

To Review: The Musings On Other Soundtrack is composed of artists including (but not limited to):

Here’s the delio: I wanna hear from you. I know you’re there. I receive emails, tweets and some comments from you KStew Lovers and Other Rebels, and they rock my socks off. But there are more LURKERS than anything…Musings enjoys an incredible visitor tally averaging 1800-2000 each week. I know. It freaking BLOWS. MY. MIND. But you don’t comment. But some of the hateful folks who actually don’t read Musings DO write me. They tell me how awful they think one of our Rebels is or, WORSE, how unworthy our Other Queen is (ah HELL to the NAH). So the haters have taken the time to leave their venom, but I want to hear the balancing Goodness from the OTHER REBELS and KSTEW supporters…

Because there are a gazillion of you. I’m finding you populating all corners of this beautiful planet of ours, and you somehow find me. So find each other here! Next week, I’ll take all commenters’ names and contact info and enter it into a raffle system that CC and/or Buff are going to have to guide me around, and give away 5 copies of the Musings On Other Queens Soundtrack. And to kick my own ass and remind me of my vow towards Creative Living, I plan to include one of my very own musical recordings on the Musings Soundtrack. (I just need to connect up with the right channels, i.e. ex-boyfriend/musical engineering genius). So dudes? Serio. I’m putting my own voice (literally) on the line here. I want to hear your voices too. You’ve all been embracing your Otherness with me on this journey…Let’s make this a Convention of Otherness, shall we??

So start warming up now…Write me, Comment, Tweet (@MusingsOnOther), and tell me your thoughts on Kristen’s Communication Skillz, on future topics of Musings, potential future Royal Rebels, and how you’re embracing your Other.. Next week, the playlist will be shown and you’re going in the Giveaway Drawing… Thanks for reading this Muselet Memo. I’ll see you hopefully, from the new digs, next Thursday! As Always, Embrace your Other. Many thanks & much love ,KJ

Well, hello there, lovelies. Happy Monday. Its 3:30AM where I am, and while I should be sleeping, I am awake since I slept away the day in a flu-haze. Yes, it’s true. For the weekend, I was in pj’s, sipping chicken soup and reading fan fic in between fever spikes. When I awoke tonight after my three and a half hour nap, I thought two things: 1.) Oh my Jeebus, these new pictures of Rob, a favorite and future featured Rebel Royal, are going to be the death of me:

I used to love hammocks. Now I unf for hammocks.

I’d say the new haircut is working out all righty, then, yes? gulp.

And 2.) I think I may need to watch myself, for I’m a little in love with Cold and Flu Medications. Ahem. *Insert Announcer’s voice: The subject of gratuitous over-the-counter drug usage is not appropriate for time or place. Moving. on*

So this isn’t a full vintage KJ Musing session, where you have to take bathroom and stretch breaks as you plow through. This is just a little moment, what have you, while I share with you what I foresee this week inspiring. I am doing this little Musings Moment for a few reasons:

Firstly a lovely lady from the UK @Evalola80, whom I adore writes me and says,”Obvs no pressure. But I kinda love your blog. When will you update again?”

I facepalmed a minute because I realized that I hadn’t told YOU lovelies what my writing schedule is, despite the fact that I’ve held myself to one for several weeks now. Bear with me, I’ve only been doing this for three weeks. Please accept my apologies for my idiocy in not communicating some of these details earlier. So, flashback to the tee shirt (i.e. entire reason for Musings On Other’s Existence) that I told you about in the first essay:

Kj Is Other.

And then envision another tee shirt to reflect my favorite day of the week:

Thursday Is Other.

So Thursday is my intended weekly update day. Groovy? My original plan was to write once a week, highlight a new Royal Rebel, and talk a little about life, love, unconventional beauty and KStew. So far, three entries in, I’ve done all right. The mind-numblingly flattering response received so far for Musings On Other, however, has nearly rendered me speechless. I said “nearly”. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

A second reason I wanted to post something today, is to empty my poor head out, and put the brainstorm on paper. This week, while already brimming with legendary promise (um, a little movie called Eclipse is premiering, and the cast is on Jimmy Kimmel), has been ripe with teachable moments in my real life–I am reveling in the power of women’s friendships, conversation and motivation to dance in the bubbles and follow the bliss. Also, our Reigning Other Queen Kristen has just killed the Eclipse promo tour, with her fashion choices, her poise, and her generosity with fans. I actually have too much to talk about! And we all know how long my musings can go, even when I’m focused! So this Thursday, I’ll most likely pay homage to Kristen Stewart’s fashion promo ownership and fashion steeze:

Doesn’t this look like the picture that comes in the frames when you buy them?

Oscar. de. la. Renta. C’mon!

I’ll also probably talk a little about Kristen’s unbelievable generosity when interacting with fans. Her critics, The Bullshit People, as she and we deemed them in the last essay, have charged Kristen with being unfriendly, ungracious and standoffish towards her fans. Not according to this jewel of a video:

I see a generous, sensitive girl who went out of her way to meet and speak with fans who waited days for her in Berlin. Did you see her running away from her car, towards the fans, almost shyly, as if she knew she would get admonished for it? Did you see her do it anyway? uh. huh. OTHER QUEEN in the hizzouse.

A third reason for this Musings Moment (though, yes, I realize I’ve blown past “momentary” about 10 minutes ago. I’m wrapping up, swears), is to say that I’m excited about some potential contributions occurring in the near future. My beta and dear friend Bouffant00 is a brilliant writer and researcher. And in following her bliss, and embracing her Other, she is writing a piece for Musings about Other Queens Forgotten…Rebels of Yore. I’m very excited to see what B comes up with, because some of the Other Queens she’s considered? legend…In the same league as one Ms Joan Jett, even. Also, though she hasn’t completely agreed yet, I am hoping soon to create a collaborative Musings post, a conversation if you will, with the luminous CC of @KStewsBtrthanU regarding following our bliss and encountering Queen KStew’s many gifts along the journey. Lots of loveliness ahead, that’s all I’m saying.

Until Thursday, please continue to enjoy the onslaught that is the RobP0rn, and Eclipse Promo footage. Kristen and Taylor are wrapping up their international tour in Sweden as I write this. Set your DVR’s for Wednesday’s Kimmel Special Eclipse Show:

And please keep coming up with awesome synonyms for OTHER that do not indicate WRONG.